WARWICK, RI — Friday night, RIDOT will close left lanes in both directions of East Avenue (Rte. 113) over I-95 and I-295, between the Route 5 intersection and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Knight Campus entrance.
The East Avenue left lane closures are the first steps in the project to replace two structurally deficient bridges over the Interstates along the major transportation corridor.
The temporary traffic pattern is being implemented so RIDOT can set up a work zone to begin demolition of the existing median barrier on the bridge.There will be one through lane for Route 113 east and west traffic as well as a lane for merging traffic coming onto and off of the Interstate. All ramps will remain open.
The traffic pattern will be in place until mid-spring, when RIDOT will shift traffic onto the eastbound side of the bridges while it begins demolition and reconstruction of the other side. The second phase of this work for the westbound side of the bridges will take place from mid-summer to late fall. By the end of the year all travel lanes will be restored to their original configuration.
If adverse weather occurs on February 21, RIDOT will shift the traffic pattern change to the following Friday, February 28.
East Avenue Bridges: A Brief History
The bridges were built in 1965 and carry up to 33,000 vehicles per day on Route 113, a major east-west corridor for Warwick that links large residential and commercial areas including access to CCRI.
The bridge replacements are part of the new $102.4 million Warwick Corridor Project. In addition to the bridge work, RIDOT will improve several other important corridors and intersections, with paving, sidewalk work, ADA accessibility, new traffic signal upgrades, and new pedestrian crossing and other safety features. Specifically, RIDOT will pave sections of East Avenue, Rte. 2 (Bald Hill Road), East Avenue, Main Avenue, West Shore Road and Post Road. More information on this project is available at www.ridot.net/WarwickCorridor.
The replacement of these bridges is made possible by RhodeWorks. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.
All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings, and weather.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
This is a test
